Generating slice data from a voxel representation

Abstract

An example technique for generating slice data from a voxel representation can include obtaining a shape specification of the 3-D object. The example technique for generating slice data from a voxel representation can also include obtaining a material specification of the 3-D object. The example technique for generating slice data from a voxel representation can also include merging the shape specification and the material specification to create a voxel representation of the 3-D object, wherein each voxel in the voxel representation includes a plurality of data types. The example technique for generating slice data from a voxel representation can also include generating slice data from the voxel representation, wherein the slice data provides a higher resolution than that provided by the voxel representation using the plurality of data types.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A method for generating slice data from a voxel representation comprising:
 obtaining a shape specification of the three-dimensional (3-D) object; 
 obtaining a material specification of the 3-D object; 
 merging the shape specification and the material specification to create a voxel representation of the 3-D object, wherein each voxel in the voxel representation includes a plurality of data types; and 
 generating slice data from the voxel representation, wherein the slice data captures a cut boundary of a particular voxel in the voxel representation using the plurality of data types, wherein the cut boundary is defined by linear and non-linear interception lines. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of data types includes volumetric data that describes a volumetric fractional percentage of a material. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the volumetric data is associated with a voxel center of the particular voxel. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of data types includes surface data that describes an area fractional percentage of a material. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the surface data is associated with a center of a surface associated with a voxel center. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of data types includes edge data that describes an intersection of a material boundary and the particular voxel. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of data types includes material data that provides an identification (ID) of a material that is associated with the particular voxel. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of data types includes edge data, surface data, and volumetric data of the 3-D object. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the slice data provides a higher resolution than that provided by the voxel representation. 
     
     
       10. A non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions for generating slice data from a voxel representation, the instructions executable by a machine to cause the machine to:
 obtain a shape specification of the three-dimensional (3-D) object; 
 obtain a material specification of the 3-D object; 
 merge the shape specification and the material specification to create a voxel representation of the 3-D object, wherein each voxel in the voxel representation includes a plurality of data types; 
 slice the voxel representation along slicing planes using the plurality of data types wherein the slicing planes are independent of a voxel size associated with the voxel representation; and 
 generate slice data based on the slicing of the voxel representation, wherein the slice data captures a cut boundary of a voxel in the voxel representation, wherein the cut boundary is defined by linear and non-linear interception lines. 
 
     
     
       11. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions executed to slice the voxel representation include instructions to define surface triangles that are associated with the voxel. 
     
     
       12. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the surface triangles further divide the voxel. 
     
     
       13. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the surface triangles are defined using the plurality of data types. 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of data types includes edge data, surface data, and volumetric data of the 3-D object. 
     
     
       15. A system for generating slice data from a voxel representation, comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a memory storing instructions that when executed cause the processor to:
 obtain a shape specification of the three-dimensional (3-D) object; 
 obtain a material specification of the 3-D object; 
 merge the shape specification and the material specification to create a voxel representation of the 3-D object, wherein each voxel in the voxel representation includes a plurality of data types; 
 define cut boundaries of a particular voxel using a plurality of data types associated with the particular voxel and a plurality of data types associated with a neighboring voxel; and 
 generate slice data from the voxel representation, wherein the slice data captures the cut boundaries of the particular voxel, and wherein the cut boundaries are defined by linear and non-linear interception lines. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the slice data provides a higher resolution than that provided by the voxel representation. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of data types includes edge data, surface data, and volumetric data of the 3-D object.